Like Sylvester Stallone’s franchise “Rocky”, the series “Rambo” has become an integral part of the history of cinema and American culture. Despite a rather introspective beginning, in the 1980s the series turned into the zenith of exaggerated action, which largely defined Stallone’s career.
Since the fifth and possibly the last adventure of John Rambo is now in theaters, we calculated which blood bath was the best and which was the worst, based on the aggregate of reviews on Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes. That’s where the quality of the film is preserved thanks to the card franchises.
5. Rambo: Last Blood – Average Score: 29.5
From the looks of things, the purported final Rambo film is by far the worst. Rambo: Last Blood has been brutalized by critics, particularly for its graphic violence and supposed xenophobia. The violence has been compared to both slasher movies and an adult version of Home Alone. Bringing Rambo back into action to save his niece from a Mexican cartel, the film’s story is especially controversial in today’s political climate. Other sore points are the film’s generic, knockoff Taken plot, and how it doesn’t feel like much of a last hurrah for the character. Author David Morrell, Rambo’s creator, was also harsh on the film, which sticks out given his defense of 2008’s Rambo.
4. Rambo III – Average Score: 38.5
The 1988 Rambo III was, for two decades, the franchise’s last film, and its worst-received. Although featuring a then-timely plot involving Rambo saving a former ally from Russian forces trying to overtake Afghanistan, it again dropped any attempts at political or thematic nuance. Many lamented that, and pointed out how even the thrilling action was coming back with diminishing returns in an era dominated by similarly brainless romps. Its anti-war elements only further highlight how far the series had come from giving actual commentary.RELATED:
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3. Rambo: First Blood Part II – Average Score: 42
The second Rambo film, and the first to feature his name in the title, marks a significant downgrade from the original. Anything to do with the social commentary of First Blood is jettisoned in favor of over-the-top action. Captured at the end of the first film, Rambo is now released to rescue American POWs in Vietnam. The result is one of the most bombastic action films of the ’80s, and one that completely transformed Rambo films into the arguably mindless explosions and murder fests they are known for today.
2. Rambo 4 – Average Score: 42
The second-most well-received installment of the series is the controversial 2008 film Rambo. Featuring a storyline in which Rambo is asked to save a group of missionaries captured in the jungles of Burma, the film was praised both for Stallone’s performance as an aged Rambo and its action. The latter was also a point of contention, however, as many critics saw the film as gratuitously violent, with uneven pacing for its rather thin plot.
1. First Blood – Average Score: 74.5
The first is still the best when it comes to the Rambo franchise. Based on the 1972 novel of the same name by David Morrell, 1982’s First Blood told the story of John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who runs afoul of a small town’s law enforcement. Forced to rely upon his combat training to survive being hunted, Rambo evades his pursuers, who see him as a violent nuisance. The film was far more dramatic than its successors, focusing namely
on the societal indifference, if not intolerance, that Vietnam veterans faced upon returning home. It did, however, set the precedent for the series’ trademark action, emphasizing its protagonist’s combat abilities. The violence is notably much less over the top than what would come later, however. Its initial reviews were mixed at best, but many now view it as both one of Stallone’s best performances, and one of the best films of 1982.